Easy Listening

The city's got live music happening every nightgood live music, and lots of it. But you need to know where you're going, or you could end up sipping a $6 ginger ale and wishing you were back home listening to your roommate phone Mom. Here's our cheat sheet for some major local venues: who plays there, what the scene's like, how likely you are to get in if you're underage or flat broke, and sample smooth talk to impress habitués.

Arlene Grocery95 Stanton Street, 358-1633

What's onstage
Earnest singer-songwriters and local bands building mailing lists and waiting for their big industry break.

Vibe
Collegial, clubby, self-celebrating, tiny, hopeful. Bands and audiences tend to be regulars, both on and off the stage.

Tips
Bands get paid by passing the hat, so be generous. Best drinking game: "Spot the A&R Guy."

Too young to rock?
Yesthey're pretty serious about carding.

Best pickup line to use
"These guys have some great tunes on MP3.comI can download them for you if you'd like."

How to get in free
Show up with a convincing IDit's always free to get in (unless there's some kind of shmancy industry showcase going on).